For most jobs in this group an Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma, or at least 3 years of relevant experience, is usually required. Pathology Collectors require a Certificate III including at least 2 years of on-the-job training, or a Certificate IV. Sometimes experience or on-the-job training is needed in addition to a qualification as well as registration or licensing.

Tasks

operating equipment used in diagnosing and monitoring disorders of the heart, kidneys, nervous system and hearing, and in anaesthesia

undertaking and assisting with medical analytical procedures and assisting Anaesthetists and surgical teams

recording the electrical activity of the heart, from which the heart rate is measured and pattern and rhythm interpreted

preparing and staining slides and tissue sections to study the cells of blood and for histological examination

performing diagnostic tests on tissues and body fluids and analysing the chemical constituents of blood, urine, faeces and tissues

testing for diseases by looking for the presence of antibodies and the products of immune response in samples

referring prescriptions to Pharmacists and assisting in preparing medications

Job Titles

Anaesthetic Technician

Cardiac Technician

Medical Laboratory Technician

Operating Theatre Technician

Pharmacy or Dispensary Technician

Pathology or Specimen Collector

Other Medical Technicians

Anaesthetic Technician

Prepares and maintains anaesthetic equipment for operating theatres or clinics, and assists Anaesthetists during anaesthetic procedures.

Cardiac Technician

Conducts tests on patients to record heart activity using specialised equipment, recording devices and laboratory instruments in support of Cardiologists and other Medical Practitioners engaged in diagnosing, monitoring and treating heart disease.

Performs routine medical laboratory tests and operates diagnostic laboratory equipment under the supervision of Medical Laboratory Scientists and Pathologists. Registration or licensing may be required.

Operating Theatre Technician

Prepares and maintains an operating theatre and its equipment, assists the surgical team during operations and provides support to patients in the recovery room.

Pharmacy or Dispensary Technician

Fills and labels patients' prescriptions under the supervision of a Pharmacist. May record details of, place orders for, take stock of, and store medications and medical supplies and deliver them to patients.

Pathology or Specimen Collector

Extracts, collects, labels and preserves blood and other specimens from patients for laboratory analysis.

This is a large occupation employing 30,200 workers. Over the past 5 years the number of jobs has grown strongly.Very strong growth is expected in the future. New jobs and turnover from workers leaving may create between 25,001 and 50,000 job openings over the 5 years to 2020.

Medical Technicians work in most parts of Australia.

They mainly work in: Health Care and Social Assistance; Retail Trade; and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.

Full-time work is fairly common. Full-time workers, on average, work 36.1 hours per week (compared to the all jobs average of 40 hours).

Average earnings for full-time workers are around $900 per week (lower than the all jobs average of $1,230). Earnings tend to be lower when starting out and higher as experience grows.

The average age is 37 years (compared to the all jobs average of 40 years).

Around 8 in 10 workers are female.

In 2016, the unemployment rate was below average.

Employment Outlook

Number of Workers

Year

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, Department of Employment trend data to November 2015 and Department of Employment projections to 2020.

Year

Number of Workers

2005

18900

2006

23600

2007

23000

2008

20400

2009

21300

2010

26400

2011

27100

2012

24900

2013

31000

2014

27600

2015

30200

2020

39000

Weekly Earnings

Full-time Earnings

All Jobs Average

Weekly Earnings (before tax)

Earnings

Medical Technicians

Source: Based on ABS Characteristics of Employment survey, August 2015, Cat. No. 6333.0, Customised Report. Median earnings are before tax and do not include superannuation. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.

Earnings

Medical Technicians

All Jobs Average

Full-Time Earnings

900

1230

Hours

Weekly Hours Worked

Category

Medical Technicians

Source: Based on ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2016, Cat. No. 6291.0.55.003: Customised Report. Hours actually worked by people who usually work full-time, and share of employment by full-time and part-time status, for this job compared to the all jobs average.

Category

Medical Technicians

All Jobs Average

Full-time

61

68.4

Part-time

39

31.6

Average Weekly Hours (full-time)

36.1

40

Category

All Jobs Average

Full-time

68.4

Part-time

31.6

Average Weekly Hours (full-time)

40

Main Industries

Top Industries

Main Employing Industries (% share)

Source: Based on ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2016, Cat. No. 6291.0.55.003: Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).

Main Employing Industries

Industry (% share)

Health Care and Social Assistance

76.3

Retail Trade

17.3

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

2.2

Manufacturing

1.8

Other Industries

2.4

States and Territories

NSW

VIC

QLD

SA

WA

TAS

NT

ACT

Employment by State and Territory (% share)

State

Medical Technicians

Source: Based on ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2016, Cat. No. 6291.0.55.003: Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.

State

Medical Technicians

All Jobs Average

NSW

28.7

31.8

VIC

32.3

25.5

QLD

18.2

19.8

SA

7.3

6.8

WA

9.5

11.2

TAS

1.7

2

NT

1.1

1.1

ACT

1.2

1.8

Age Profile

Age Profile (% share)

Age Bracket

Medical Technicians

Source: Based on ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2016, Cat. No. 6291.0.55.003: Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.

Age Bracket

Medical Technicians

All Jobs Average

All Jobs Average

15-19

1.7

-5.4

5.4

20-24

10.8

-9.9

9.9

25-34

32.8

-23.4

23.4

35-44

17

-21.7

21.7

45-54

19.3

-21.1

21.1

55-59

7.5

-8.7

8.7

60-64

7.6

-5.9

5.9

65 and Over

3.2

-3.8

3.8

Gender

Male Share

Female Share

Gender (% share)

Category

Medical Technicians

Source: Based on ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2016, Cat. No. 6291.0.55.003: Customised Report. Male and female share of employment in this job compared to the all jobs average.

Category

Medical Technicians

Category

All Jobs Average

Males

18.8

Males

53.6

Females

81.2

Females

46.4

Education Level

Top Education Levels

Highest Level of Education (% share)

Type of Qualification

Medical Technicians

Source: ABS, Education and Work (2016). Findings based on use of ABS TableBuilder data. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Skill level requirements can change over time, the qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.

Type of Qualification

Medical Technicians

All Jobs Average

All Jobs Average

Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate

5

-8.6

8.6

Bachelor degree

13.6

-17.9

17.9

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

11.8

-10.1

10.1

Certificate III/IV

39.3

-18.9

18.9

Year 12

21.4

-18.7

18.7

Years 11 & 10

8.9

-17.7

17.7

Below Year 10

0

-8.1

8.1

For most occupations in this group an Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma, or at least 3 years of relevant experience, is usually required. Pathology Collectors require a Certificate III including at least 2 years of on-the-job training, or a Certificate IV. Sometimes experience or on-the-job training is needed in addition to a qualification as well as registration or licensing.

If you are interested in this style of work, there are a wide range of training options available that could lead to this or a similar job. The pathway that is right for you will depend on your skills and interests.